Multiple coin actuated vending machine



Feb- 20, 1934- w. L. GIL'cHms-r Er Al.

MULTIPLE COIN ACTUATED VENDINQ MACHINE Filed June 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20v, 1934. w. L. GlLcHRlsT E1- AL 1,9485107' HULTIPLE COIN ACTUATED VENDING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O 'A/rlf ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1934.

w. L. GlLcHRlsT ET AL VMULTIPLE COIN ACTUATED VENDING MACHINE 3 sheets-sheet s v Filed June 24. 1932 .1. E. l: am?? INVENTOR, ML 6M CHF/J7' hf. 7; Hoor/ma E BY I ATTORN Patented Feb. 20, 1 934 o l UNITED STATES PATENTi OFFICE MULTIPLE com ACTUATEDVENDING MACHINE William L. Gilchrist, Los Angeles, Calif., and Wllllam T. Hoofnagle, Glen Ridge, N. J., signori to Rowe Slug Ejector Co.. Ltd., Los Angeles, Calif.. a corporation of Nevada Application June 24, 1932. Serial No. 619,926

9 Claims. (Cl. 194---39) This invention relates to improvements in mul- As shownthe device 10 is adapted to actuate tiple coin actuated vending machines. to release the plunger 14- by the insertion there- The general object of the invention is to prointo of dimes and nickels but it will be understood vide lan improved coin released mechanism that it is adapted to any combination of sets of wherein a plurality of coins are required to optwo coins. y n erate the device. The device 10 comprises a body portion 16 Another object of the invention is to provide vwhich is shown as adapted to be secured to poran improved coin released mechanism wherein tions of the vending machine housing by bolts l?. various combinations of coins of different de- One side of the body 16 such as indicated by` D 10 nominations will operate the device. and shown in Fig. 1 will be designated as the dime A further object of the invention is to provide side of the device and the opposite side such a device of the class described including means as shown in Fig. 2 and indicated by N will be whereby should an operator after depositing designated as the nickel side of the device. coins in the device and before actuating the coin On the dime side of the body 16, we provide released mechanism desire to have the coins rean entrance raceway 18 which is formed by a 7 turned he may operate the device to return the rear abutment portion 19and a front abutment deposited coins. portion 20 both of which are integral with the A still further object of the invention is to probody 16. Spaced a predetermined distance below vide a device of the class described including the lower ends of the abutments 19 and 20, we means to return to an operator a predetermined provide an abutment portion 21 which is inclined 75 amount of change upon actuation of the coin forwardly and downwardly and is adapted to direlease mechanism. rect coins towards a rearwardly curved portion Other objects and the advantages of this in- 22 of an abutment portion 23. The forward end vention will be apparent from the following deof the abutment portion 21 is spaced a predeterscription taken in connection with the accommined distance from the rear face of the abut- 9 panying drawings wherein: ment portion'23. Spaced below the curved por- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tion 22 of the abutment 23, we provide an apervending machine showing our improved coin reture 24 inl the body 16 through which coins are leased mechanism operatively installed therein adapted to be directed to the nickel side of the 0 with portions of the coin released mechanism body by a downwardly inclined portion 25 which u broken away. is integral with the body 16.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the Positioned on the abutments 19, 20, 21 and 23, opposite side of the coin released mechanism. we provide a cover plate 26 which is secured to Fig. 3 is a rear view of the device shown in the body by a plurality of screws 2'7 and extends Fig. 1. from the top of the body downward to adja- 9 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the coin recent the top of the aperture 24. leased mechanism showing the side thereof On they nickel side of the body we provide shown in Fig. 1 with the cover plate removed and an entrance raceway 28 which is formed by a showing a coin actuating a portion of the mechaforwardly and downwardly inclined abutment 0 nism and portion 29. The raceway 28 is adapted to direct 95 Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the coin actucoins towards a rearwardly curved section 30 of ating a different portion of the mechanism. an abutment portion 31 and the lower end of the Referring to the drawings by reference charabutment portion 29 is spaced a predetermined acters, we have indicated our improved coin redistance from the rear face of the abutment porleased mechanism generally at 10 and have shown tion 31. The lower end of the curved section 30 100 it as operatively mounted in a. vending machine is spaced a predetermined distance above the housing 12. As shown the device 10 is adapted aperture 24 and coins leaving the curved section upon insertion of the proper coins, to release a 30 are directed rearwardly and downwardly toplunger bar 14 which extends through the front wards abutment portions 32 and 33 which in turn of the housing 12 and is supported in brackets direct the coins into the chute 25. 105

15. The plunger bar 14 may act directly to ds- Positioned on the abutments 29, 31', 32 and 33, charge an article from the vending machine or it we provide a cover plate 34 which is secured to may act to release other plungers which when the body by a plurality of screws 35 and extends f actuated discharge articles from the vending mafrom the. top of the body downward to adjacent chine. the top of the aperture 24. As shown dimes are U0 directed from the exterior of the vending machine housinglZ to the dime entrance raceway 18 of the device 10 by a suitable coin chute 36 and nickels are directed from 'the exterior of the vending machine housing to the nickel entrance raceway 28 by a suitable coin chute 37.

Pivotally mounted on the body 16 as at 38 on the dime side thereof, we provide a lever 39 which in the front of itspivot includes a portion 40 which projects into the entrance raceway 18 a predetermined distance and in the rear includes a working face 41.

Pivotally mounted on the body 16 as at 42 below the abutment portion 21, we provide a lever 43 which at therear of its pivot includes a working face 44. At the front of its pivot the lever 43 curves downwardly and then curves forwardly and terminates in a forwardly projecting portion 45 the end of which is normally spaced a predetermined distance below the end of the curved section 22 of the abutment 23 and above the top of the aperture 24. Intermediate the length of the lever 43, we provide a pin 46 which projects through an arcuately shapedelongated aperture 47 in the body 16 to the nickel side of the body at a point a predetermined distance below and to the rear of the end of the curved section 30 of the abutment portion 31 (see Fig. 2).

To prevent rearward movement of the plunger bar 14, we provide a dog 48 which is pivotally secured to the body 16 as at 49. 'Ihe dog 48 includes an abutment face 50 which is adapted to be engaged by a vertical face 5l of a notch 52 provided in the upper face of the plunger bar 14. The bottom of the notch 52 is inclined upwardly towards the rear to allow fre'e forward movement of the plunger bar. ther includes an upwardly projecting portion 53 having thereon a rearwardly projecting iinger member 54.

For swinging the dog 48 upward about its pivot, we provide a lever 55 which is pivotally mounted adjacent one end on a bolt 56 which is secured to the body 16. The opposite end of the lever 55 terminates in a partially rounded portion 57 which is positioned directly below the iinger 54 on the dog 48. v

For actuating the lever 55, we provide another lever 58 which is also pivotally mounted o.. the bolt 56. The lever 58 extends rearwardly at a downward inclination a predetermined distance and forwardly of the pivot bolt 56 the lever includes an enlarged portion or head 59 which includes a plurality of substantially vertically spaced apertures 60. l Adapted to be positioned in one of the apertures 60, we provide a pin 61 which is also adapted to be positioned in a correspondingly sized aperture provided inthe lever 55. Thus when the rear of the lever 58 is moved downwardly the pin 61 will move upwardly and move the end 57 ofthe lever 55 upward whichl in turn will engage the finger 54 oi.' the dog 48 and swing the free end of the dog upward out of the notch 52 in the plunger bar 14 whereupon the plunger bar is free to be moved rearwardly,

For moving the rearof the lever 58 downward, we provide a vertically movable bar 63 which is slidably mounted in bearings 64 which are integral with the body 16 and extend outwardly from the face thereof on the nickel side.

Adjacent the lower end the bar 63 includes-a reduced portion 65 to which we secure a bolt 66 having a roller 67 rotatably mounted thereon (see Fig. 3). Extending along most of the length The dog 48 furofthebar63.weprovldegeartseth forward facs thereof.

Intermediate the bearings 64, we provide a gear 69 which meshes with the gear teeth 68 on the bar 63. The gear 69 is secured to a'shait 70 which is rotatably supported in the body 16 and extends therethrough to the dime side where an escapement wheel 71 is secured thereto. Thev escapement wheel 71 includes a plurality of evenly spaced radially extending ratchet teetlr72.

Positioned between the face of the body 16 and the adjacent face of the escapement wheel'71, we provide a plate 73 which is supported by bolts 74 positioned in elongated apertures 75 provided in the plate 73. To normally prevent rotation of the escapement wheel 71 in an anticlockwise direction we provide a`inger 76 on the plate 73 which is normally engaged by one of the ratchet teeth 72. To normally retain the linger 76 in engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 72 of the escapement wheel we provide a horse shoe spring 77 one end of which is anchored to a port 78 on the body 16 and the other end of which enone \ gages a finger 79 provided on the plate 73 and resiliently urges the plate 73 forwardly.

To prevent rotation of the escapement wheel 71 more than the distance between the ratchet teeth 72 when the finger 76 is' moved out of engagement with a ratchet tooth we provide a finger 80 on the plate 73. Normally the nger 80 is out of engagement with the escapement wheel as shown in Fig. l. The finger 79 of the plate 73 is engaged by the working face 41 of the pivoted lever 39 and the working face 44 of the pivoted lever 43 engages a finger 81 provided on the plate 73.

With the pin 61 of the lever 58 positioned in the lowermost aperture 60 the device is adapted to be actuated to relase the plunger bar 14 by the insertion into the device 10 of twenty-five cents in change. That is it may be actuated to release the plunger bar by the insertion into the device 10 of two dimes and a nickel, one dime and three nickels or live nickels. l

When an operator inserts a dime in the dime coin chute 36 it is directed to the dime inlet raceway 18 of the device 10. As the dime moves .downward in the raceway 18 it engages the end portion 40 of the 1ever'39 and the weight of the dime swings the end 40 of the lever down- 125 wardly .until the dime engages the abutment 'member 21 whereupon the dime rolls out of engagement with the lever 39 (see Fig.; 4).

As the end 40 of the lever 39 is thus moved downward the lower corner of the working face 41 of the lever moves rearwardly and moves'the plate 73 rearwardly against the action of the spring 77. As the plate 73 moves rearwardly the finger 76 thereof moves out of engagement with the escapement whereupon the weight of the bar 63 moves the bar downward thereby rotating the gear 69 and the escapement wheel 71. The` finger 80 on the plate 73 is so vspaced from the finger 76 that it allows one ratchet tooth to pass thereby before it moves into engagement with the escapement and as the escapement rotates prevents the next ratchet tooth from passing thereby stopping the downward travel of the bar 63. When the dime moves out of engagement with the lever 39 the spring 77 returnstheplatev'ZS to 145 its initial position wherein the nger 80 is out of engagement with the escapement wheel and the finger 76 is in engagement with the escapement wheel.

.as me dime leaves the abutment er it is di 160 rected towards the curved section 22 of the abutment 23 which in turn directs it downwardly and rearwardly into engagement with the lower end portion 45 of the lever 43. When the dime engages the lever 43 the weight of the dime moves the portion 45 of the lever downward to the position shown in Fig. 5 whereupon the dime rolls out of engagement with the lever 43 and into the chute 25.

When the portion 45 of the lever 43 moves downward the lower corner of the working face 44 of the lever moves rearwardly and moves the plate 73 rearwardly against the action of the spring. 77 whereupon the weight of the bar 63 rotates the escapement the distance between teeth as previously described. From the foregoing it will be apparent that a single dime passing through the device l0 actuates the mechanism thereof to allow the bar 63 to move downwardly two steps. Thus two dimes will actuate the mechanism to allow the bar 63 to move downwardly four steps.

When the operator insertsa nickel in the nickel chute 37 it is directed to the nickel inlet raceway 28 which in turn directs it into engagement with the curved section 30 of the abutment portion 3l. As the nickel leaves the curved sectionl 30 it engages the pin 46 of the lever 43 whereupon the weight of the nickel swings the portion 45 of the lever 43 downward to a predetermined point and then rolls out of engagement with the pin 46 whereupon it is directed into the coin chute 25 by the abutment portion 33. As the nickel swings the portion 45 of the lever 43 downward the lever actuates the plate 73 in the same manner as previously described in connection with vthe dime operation to allow the bar 63 to move downward one step. Thus it will be seen that each nickel passing through the device 10 actuates the mechanism thereof to allow the bar 63 to move downwardly one step.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when two dimes and one nickel have passed through the device 10 the bar 63 has moved downwardly ve steps.

As the bar 63 is moving downward on its fifth step the roller 67 thereon engages the end of the lever 58 and moves it downward thereby moving the dog 48 out of the notch 52 of the plunger bar 14 whereupon the plunger bar is free to be moved rearwardly by the operator as previously described.

When the coins enter the coin chute 25 they are directed thereby into a coin hopper 82 which is Apivotally mounted on a bolt 83 secured to a lug 84 which is integral with the coin chute 25. When the coins reach the lower end of the hopper 82 they come to rest on a shelf 85 which is secured to the housing4 12 and positioned adjacent the lower end of the hopper.

When the operator moves the plunger bar 14 rearwardly a roller 86 rotatably mounted thereon engages the hopper 82 and swings the lower end thereof rearwardly as shown in Fig. 2 in which position the lower end of the hopper aligns with a coin chute 87 which directs the coins to a suitable coin receiver.

To reset the bar 63 to its initial position, we provide a lever 88 which is pivotally mounted on the body 16 as at 89. Adjacent the pivot 89 the lever includes an enlarged portion 90 having a forward working face 91 and a lower cam face 92.

When the bar 63 is in a lowered position as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2 and the operator moves the plunger bar 14 rearwardly a roller 93 rotatably mounted thereon engages the face 91 or the lever 88 and swings the lever about its pivot 89 thereby moving the rear of the-lever upward which in turn engages the rol1er67on the bar 63 and moves the bar 63 upward to its initial position asshown in Fig. 2.

After depositing the required amount of coins to operate the device l0 or a portion of the required amount, the operator wishes to have the deposited coins returned 'he may do so by pulling the plunger bar 14 forwardly. As the plunger bar moves forwardly a roller 94 rotatably mounted thereon swings the lower end of the coin hopper 82 forwardly into alignment with a coin return chute 95 which directs the coins through an aperture 96 in the front of the housing 12 and into a coin return receptacle 97 (see the broken line position in Fig. 1).

At the same time the roller 94 engages the hopper 82 it engages the cam face 92 of the lever 88 and moves it upward thereby moving the rear of the lever 88 upward which in turn engages the roller 67 on the bar 63 and moves the bar 63 upward to its initial position.

For returning a predetermined amount of change upon each complete operation of the device,l we provide a change return mechanism which is indicated generally at 100. As shown the device 100 includes a base 101 which is secured to the device 10 by a plurality of the cover bolts 27 on the dirne side. groove 102 therein which is approximately the same depth as the thickness ofa one cent coin and in which we position a slide bar 103. Adjacent the forward end of the base 101, we provide a coin hopper 104 which is mounted on shim bars 105 positioned on each side of the groove 102. If but one cent in change is to be returned the shim bars 105 are omitted and when more than one cent is to be returned the thickness of the shim bars correspond in height to the combined thickness of the number of coins to be returnedv above one.

Extending rearwardly from the coin hopper 105 we provide spaced overhanging portions 106 which retain the slide bar 103 in the groove 102. The coin hopper 104 includes a vertical aperture 107 in which one cent pieces 109 are positioned flatwise. The lowest cent in the device 100 rests on the upper face of the base 101.

When more than one cent is to be returned, we provide a shim 110 adjacent the forward end of the slide bar which corresponds in thickness to the combined thickness of the coins above one to be returned.

Extending downwardly from the slide bar 103, we provide an arm 112 which has a roller 113 105,r The base 101 has a l pivotallymounted thereon adjacent the lower end thereof.

Pivotally mounted on the body 16 as vat 114, we provide a lever 115. The lever 115 includes an arm 116 which extends upwardly from the pivot 114 and a finger 117 which extends downwardly from the pivot 114.

When the plunger bar 14 is moved rearwardly a projection 118 thereon engages the finger 117 of the lever 115 and moves it rearwardly thus swinging the arm 116 of the lever forwardly (see Fig. 2). As the lever 115 is thus moved the arm 116 engages the rolls 113 on the arm 112 of the slide bar 103 and moves the slide bar 103 forwardly.

As the slide bar 103 is thus moved the two lowermost one cent pieces 109 are moved forwardly and out of the device 100. When the coins leave the Sil device 1J00 they fall into a coin chute 12D which directs them into the return coin chute95.

When the plunger 14 is released a spring 121, which is secured to the coin chute 36 by a boss 122 and to the shim 110 by a boss 123, causes the plunger to asume its original position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we'have provided the novel coin released device whichis simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l.' In a coinv device, a plunger, a plvoted dog adapted to engage'said plunger and normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, a lever pivoted adjacent one end, the opposite' end oi said lever engaging a portion oi said dog to move it out of engagement with said plunger bar, a second lever pivoted intermediate its length, means adjacent one end of said @cond lever engaging said rst lever to move the latter, a release bar slidably mounted and movable into engagement with said second lever, gear teeth on saidrelease bar, a gear, said gear meshing with said bar gear teeth, a rotatably mounted shaft, said gear being secured, to said shaft, an escapement wheel secured to said shaft, said escapement wheel including a plurality of spaced ratchet teeth, a movable plate adjacent said escapement wheel, a finger on said plate, e. second linger on said plate, resilient means engaging said plate and normally swinging said first linger into engagement with said escapement wheel to prevent rotation of said escapement wheel, said second linger when said first nger engages said escapement wheel being out of engagement with said escapement wheel, means whereby a plurality of coins of diierent denominations actuate said plate to free said escapement wheel whereby said bar moves toward said second lever, said second finger when said nrst finger moves out of engagement with said escapement wheel being adapted to move into engagement with said escapement wheel to prevent rotation thereof beyond a predetermined amount, means whereby coins of different denominations free said escapement Wheel a predetermined number of different times, said bar being adapted to engage said sec-- ond lever and move said second lever whereupon said second lever moves said rst lever and said rst lever moves said dog out of engagement with said plunger and means whereby when said plunger is moved in one'direction said bar will be returned to its initial position.

2. In a coin device, a plunger, means engaging said plunger to normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, means to release the first means, said last mentioned means including a step by step device, a plurality of coin chutes, a pivoted lever adjacent the exit of eachl oi said coin chutes, means whereby one of said levers when rocked advances said step by step device one` step, means whereby the other lever when rocked also advances the step by step device one step and means whereby a coin after strilring the iirst lever and operating the bar one step advances and strikes the second lever, whereby the same coin actuates the step by step device another step,'whereby when a sumcient number of coins have been disposed the device will move to free said plunger for movement in one direction.

3. In a coin device, a plunger, holding means to engage said plunger and normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, releasing means engaginga portion of said holding means to move the latter out oi engagement with said plunger,

means to operate said releasing means, said last means including a release bar, means to give said release bar a step by step movement, said last mentioned means including a ratchet device coacting wlth said bar, a plurality of coin chutes, a pivoted lever adjacent the exit of each of said coin chutes, means whereby one of said levers when rocked advances said bar one step, means whereby the other lever when rocked also advances the bar one step and means whereby a coin after striking the nrst lever and operating the bar one step advances and strikes the second lever, whereby the same coin actuates the bar another step.

e. ln a coin device, a plunger, a pivoted dog adapted to engage said plunger and normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, a lever engaging a portion of said dog to move it out of engagement with said plunger, means to move said first lever, a release bar slidably mounted and movable into engagement with lever moving means, gear teeth on said release bar, a gear, said gear meshing with said bar gear teeth, a rotatably mounted shaft, said gear being secured to said shaft, an escapement wheel secured to said shaft, means to normally prevent movement of said escapeinent wheel, and means whereby a piu rality oi coins or different denominations free said escapernent wheel whereby said bar moves said lever moving means to thereby move said lever, whereupon said lever moves said dog out of engagement with said plunger.

5. ln a coin device, a sliding plunger, a pivoted dog engaging said plunger to normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, a lever engaging said dog to move it out of engagement with said plunger, a second lever having means engaging said first lever to move the latter, a release bar sliclably mounted and movably into engagement with said second lever, means to give said release bar a step by step movement, said last mentioned means including a ratchet device coacting with said bar, a plurality of coin chutes, a pivoted lever adjacent each of said coin chutes, means whereby one of said levers when rocked advances said bar one step, means whereby the other lever when rocked also advances the bar onev step and means whereby a coin after striking the nrst lever and operating the bar one step advances and strikes the second lever, whereby the same coin actuates the bar another step.

6. in a coin device, a plunger, a pivoted dog adapted to engage said plunger and normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, a lever pivoted adjacent one end, the opposite end or" said lever engaging a portion of said dog to move it out of engagement with said plunger, a second lever pivoted intermediate its length, means on said second lever engaging said rst lever to move the latter, a release bar movably into engagement with said second lever, means including an escapement device to normally hold said release bar against movement, means whereby a coin actuates said escapement device to free said bar whereby said bar moves toward said second lever, said bar being adapted to engage said second lever and move said second lever whereupon said second lever moves said first lever and said rst lever moves said dog out of engagement with said plunger.

7. lin a coin device, a plunger, a pivoted dog adapted to engage said plunger and normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, a lever pivoted adjacent one end, the opposite end of said lil@ lever engaging a portion of said dog to move it out of engagement with said plunger, a second lever pivoted intermediate its length, adjustable means on said second lever engaging said first lever to move the latter, a release bar slidably mounted and movable into engagement with said second lever, means including an escapement device to normally hold said release bar against movement, means whereby a plurality of coins of different denominations actuate said escapement device to free said bar whereby said bar moves towards said second lever, means whereby coins of different denominations free said escapement device a predetermined number of different times, said bar being adapted to engage said second lever and move said second lever whereupon said second lever moves said first lever and said first lever moves said dog out of engagement with said plunger and means whereby when said plunger is moved in one direction said bar will be returned to its initial position.

8. In a coin device, a plunger, a dog adapted to engage said plunger and normally prevent movement thereof in one direction, a pivoted lever having a portion engaging said dog to move it out of engagement with said plunger, a second lever, means on said second lever engaging said first lever to move the latter, a release bar movable into engagement with said second lever, gear teeth on said release bar, a gear, said gear meshing with said bar gear teeth, a shaft, said gear being secured to said shaft, an escapement wheel secured to said shaft, said escapement wheel including a plurality of spaced ratchet teeth, a movable plate adjacent lsaid escapement wheel, a finger on said plate, a second finger on said plate, whereby said fingers prevent rotation of said escapement wheel, means whereby a plurality of coins of different denominations actuate said plate to free said escapement wheel whereby said bar moves toward said second lever, said bar being adapted to engage said second lever and gear teeth on said release bar, agear, said gear meshing with said bar gear teeth, a shaft, said gear beingsecured to said shaft, an escapement wheel secured to said shaft, said escapement wheel including a plurality of spaced ratchet teeth, a movable plate adjacent said escapement wheel, a finger on said plate, a second finger -on said plate, means engaging said plate and normally swinging said first finger into engagement with said escapement wheel to prevent rotation of said escapement wheel, said second finger when said first finger engages said escapement wheel being out of. engagement with said escapement wheel, means whereby said plate frees said escapement wheel whereby said bar moves toward said second lever, said second finger when said first finger moves out of engagement with said escapement wheel being adapted to move into engagement with said escapement wheel to prevent rotation thereof beyond a predetermined amount and means whereby coins of different denominations free said escapement wheel a predetermined number of different times, said bar being adapted to engage said second lever and move said second lever whereupon said second lever moves said first lever and said first lever moves said dog out of engagement with said plunger.

WILLIAM T. HOOFNAGLE. WILLIAM L. GILCHRIST.

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